Method and medical apparatus for measuring pulmonary artery blood flow

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for examination and evaluation of a blood flow in a pulmonary artery of a patient, measurement data are recorded, from which at least a part of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery is able to be re-constructed at least two-dimensionally in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the pulmonary artery and by an anterior-posterior direction, including at least at several diastolic points in time in the course of a heart cycle, after a closure of the pulmonary valve. The number of diastolic points for which an asymmetry in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pulmonary artery in the anterior-posterior direction exists is determined. A measure is then determined that characterizes how long, after the closure of the pulmonary valve, the aforementioned asymmetry exists.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention concerns a method for examining a human or animal body with regard to a blood flow in the pulmonary artery. In addition the invention concerns a medical imaging apparatus for implementing such a method. Such a method is especially used in the examination of patients with a pulmonary hypertension or with a suspected pulmonary hypertension or with a pulmonary hypertension occurring when the body is under stress.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Pulmonary hypertension (abbreviated “PH” below) is an illness characterized by an increase in the pulmonary artery pressure. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (abbreviated “PAH” below) is a subgroup of PH. The definition of PAH has been established in the usual guidelines. It relates to the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and not to the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and to the exclusion of basic conditions such as serious lung or left ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a method for examining a human or animal body to diagnose pulmonary hypertension using magnetic resonance imaging. The method involves recording measurement data from which the blood flow in the pulmonary artery can be reconstructed in a reliable manner. The method can be executed independently of the user and is fast, simple, and risk-free. It can also be used with other medical diseases associated with pulmonary hypertension, such as heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The method provides important information for diagnosis and can improve the prognosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Problems solved by technology

The prognosis of the PH is bad regardless of its genesis, especially if the diagnosis is made late.

This examination is invasive however and must be carried out by experienced personnel to obtain reliable data and to keep the risks low.

The costs of such an examination are high.

These types of results were not able however to be reliably reproduced by other working groups.

Most of the methods described therein have not been able to establish themselves.

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